DOCSLIB.ORG

Reef Corals : Autotrophs Or Heterotrophs?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Reef Corals : Autotrophs Or Heterotrophs? Reference : Biol. Bull., 141 : 247—260. (October, 1971) REEF CORALS : AUTOTROPHS OR HETEROTROPHS? THOMAS F. GOREAU,1 NORA I. GOREAU AND C. M. YONGE Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of the West mndies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica; and Department of Zoology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland Some recent studies 2 seem to indicate that the nutritional economy of reef corals is for all practical purposes to be considered autotrophic due to their zooxanthellae (Fig. 1). For example, Franzisket (1969a, 1970) claims to have demonstrated that some Hawaiian reef corals can achieve net growth in the total absence of particulate food, while Johannes and Coles ( 1969) state that the energy requirements of Bermudian reef corals are in some cases more than an order of magnitude greater than could be provided by the zooplankton which the investi gators were able to catch with a fine net. In spite of their supposedly autotrophic economy, the reef corals have not developed any of the behavioral and structural specializations for such a way of life. In this respect they differ fundamentally from Xenia hicksoni and Clavularia hanira (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) (Gohar, 1940, 1948) and Zoanthus sociatus (Hexacorallia, Zoanthidea) (Von Holt and Von Holt, 1968a, b) , unrelated anthozoans which have independently evolved a more or less complete nutritional dependence upon their contained zooxanthellae. Available data is summarized in Table I. These species have never been observed to feed, and there is a more or less marked reduction of structures and functions associated with the usual predatory feeding habits in Cnidaria ; for example, they do not respond to any of the known tactile and chemical stimuli that trigger feeding behavior in related carnivorous species; they do not ingest particulate matter, and are unable to either digest or assimilate food artificially placed into their coelenteron by means of a canula (Goreau and Goreau, unpublished). The reef corals are, by contrast, superbly efficient and voracious carnivores that will accept practically any kind of particulate animal food (Yonge, 1930a, 1930b; Yonge and Nicholls 1930, 1931). Feeding occurs in several different ways, de pending on the species: in the majority, the food is swept into the coelenteron by means of ciliary currents, (sometimes involving reversal as in Fungia), while in some corals the tentacles convey the food directly to the mouth (Yonge, 1930a). Most species are also capable of extracoelenteric digestion of food matter outside the body by means of mesenterial filaments extruded through temporary openings (Fig. 2) at any place on the colony surface (Duerden, 1902; Matthai, 1918; Goreau, 1956). Reef corals obtain food via this ancillary route and also use the extruded filaments as weapons, primarily against other corals the tissues of which they may digest (Lang, 1969, 1970). 1 Thomas F. Goreau was Professor of Marine Sciences, University of the West Indies at Mona, and Professor of Biology, State University of New York at Stony Brook; Director of the Coral Reef Project and Director of the Marine Laboratory at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. He died unexpectedly in New York on April 22, 1970. 2 See also the paper by V. B. Pearse and L. Muscatine (dedicated to the late T. F. Goreau) on pages 350—363,and that by P. V. Fankboner on pages 222—234of this issue—Editor. 247 248 THOMAS F. GOREAU, NORA I. GOREAU AND C. M. YONGE FIGuu.@ 1. Autoradiogran1 of carbon1' labelled Fungia scutaria. The coral was ex posed to ‘¿4C02in sunlight for ten minutes and washed in running sea water for thirty minutes before fixation. The area seen under (lark field illumination and focused on the plane of emul sion shows the concentration of silver grains over the carbon― labelled zooxanthellac of the gastrodermis. The scale represents 100 @. Specimens exposed in the (lark showed no fixation of the isotope. FIGURE 2. Mussa angulosa under severe starvation gradually loses contact with the skele ton (a) (b), eventually sinking to the bottom of the aquarium, still alive. When offered crab juice this free specimen extruded its mesenterial filaments (c) through the epithelium of the calicoblast. Some colonies lose their zooxanthellae, some keel) them, but in the most severe cases of starvation only the stoniodeum and a few filaments remain. Later only bits of mesenterial filaments curl about. However they all showed feeding responses when crab meat or amino acids were added. These filaments persist for a few (lays. These diverse feeding mechanisms are supplemented by an exquisitely per ceptive chemotactic sense. In several species of Jamaican reef corals (Manicina areolata, Cladocora arbuscula, Eusnülia fastigiata, Isophvllia sinuosa., Mussa angulosa and Scolvm.ia lacera) we found some years ago that very low concen trations of amino acids such as glycine, alanine. phenvlalanine and lucine could trigger off typical feeding responses; i.e., opening and eversion of the stomodeum, swelling of the coenosarc, extension of tentacles and sometimes extrusion of mesenterial filaments. M. areolata responded in this manner to alanine and glvcine at concentrations as low as 10@ @i,whereas glucose, sucrose, glycerol and mannitol did not have any effect at high concentrations. Mariscal and Lenhoff (1968) ob TROPHIC CONDITIONS OF REEF CORALS 249 TABLE I Available data on nutritional adaptation and absorption in Scleraclinia, Alcyonacea and Zoanthidea of of of re crab juice ‘¿Hleucine sponse to TaxonomyZooxanthellaeAbsorption and india ink into the C by crab meat or acidsNematocystsScieractinia: into filamentsUptakeepidermisUptakezooxantliellaeFeedingamino Hermatypes: Fungia + Stylophora + +++ +++ ++ +++ +++ Ahermatype: Tubastrea 0 +++ +++ 0 +++ +++ Alcyonacea: Xenia + 0 ? +++ 0 0 Zoanthidea: Z. sociatus + ? ? +++ ? disordered P.caribbae + +++ ? + +++ ++ P. grandis ++++ ++++++ ?++ ++++ ++++++ ++ Other niorphological correllates with xanthellar symbiosis are: (1) Xenia: nonematocysts,reducedfilaments,noseptallobes, (2) Zoanthus: nematocysts,butthesearein a disorderedpositionandin placeswheretheydonogood; filaments reduced but lobesare very large. All stages of pycnosis, degeneration,frag mentation and extrusion of zooxanthellae were observed in the mesenterial lobes. Feeding reaction: (1) Corals: Dilationand extensionof stomodeum,inibibitionof water,sometimeserectionof tentacles or shooting of the mesenteries through mouth or body wall; (2) Xeniids: Rhythmic movement of tentacles of anthocodia; (3) Zoanthids:Zoanthussociatus:none, Palythoa caribbae : Dilation of mouth, strongly inward movement of water at ciliate groove, curling over of the lenkicular rinz, Palythoa grandis: same as P. caribbae. served tilat concentrations as low as 10@ M proline resulted in feeding responses in C@'plzastrea ocellina., Pocillopora dai'nicornis and Fungia scutaria. Responses similar to tilose caused by amino acids are produced in corals by seawater ill which there had previously been zooplankton. We have often observed that corals will expand tinder llattlral conditions in apparent anticipation of plank ton: evidently this is due to tileir ability to sense the diffuse cloud of metabolites, including amino acids, that usually surrounds plankton swarms (Hellebust, 1965). It would indeed be surprising if, as Johannes and Coles (1969) have speculated, tilecoralshave retainedtllesecapabilitiesmerely to obtaintracenutrientssuch as phosphorus from their prey while the bulk of their nutrition comes from the zooxantheilae! Yet, there is no need for such a roundabout way to obtain phos phorus since reef corals, but not ahermatypes, in the light are known to take up inorganic phosphate from the mediunl, this being a function of the zooxantheilae, not the coral host (Yonge alld Nidllolls, 1931). The fully autotrophic xeniid alcyonaceans and Zoanthus are evidently able to obtain all their trace nutrients directly from tile seawater. As regards the possible need for organic phosphorus, Von Holt (1968) has shown that ill Zoanthus there is a transfer of nucleoside polyphospilate fronl algal symbiont to animal host. If the reef corals were truly 250 THOMAS F. GOREAU, NORA I. GOREAU AND C. M. YONGE as autotrophic as Franzisket and Johannes believe, the question arises why have they not evolved similar more direct mechanisms for obtaining critical nutrients directly from their symbionts? OBSERVATIONS The boundary layer water and its relation to the trophic structure of the reef The evidence so far cited has not resolved the conflict between the apparent low productivity of tropical ocean surface waters (Fleming, 1954 ; Sargent and Austin, 1949, 1954) and the need for organic nutrients by the benthonic fauna in the reef ecosystem. This consists of the corals and a diverse assenlblage of filter, detritus, suspension and deposit feeders as well as predacious carnivores, the ma jority without zooxanthellae which might serve as ancillary food source. Recent reviews by Bakus ( 1969) and Stoddart ( 1969) have demonstrated how little quantitative information is available on the trophic cycles within the reef bio tope, largely because the pathways themselves are still largely unknown. Oceanic reef ecosystems appear on the whole to be autotrophic units operating at very high levels of productivity, turnover rate and efficiency (Odum and Odum, 1955; Kohn and Helfrich, 1957) whereas at least sonie smaller reefs off high islands may be non-autotrophic (Goreau, Torres, Mas and Ramos, 1960 ; Gorden and Kelley, 1962)
Load more

Recommended publications
  • MARINE FAUNA and FLORA of BERMUDA a Systematic Guide to the Identification of Marine Organisms
    MARINE FAUNA AND FLORA OF BERMUDA A Systematic Guide to the Identification of Marine Organisms Edited by WOLFGANG STERRER Bermuda Biological Station St. George's, Bermuda in cooperation with Christiane Schoepfer-Sterrer and 63 text contributors A Wiley-Interscience Publication JOHN WILEY & SONS New York Chichester Brisbane Toronto Singapore ANTHOZOA 159 sucker) on the exumbrella. Color vari­ many Actiniaria and Ceriantharia can able, mostly greenish gray-blue, the move if exposed to unfavorable condi­ greenish color due to zooxanthellae tions. Actiniaria can creep along on their embedded in the mesoglea. Polyp pedal discs at 8-10 cm/hr, pull themselves slender; strobilation of the monodisc by their tentacles, move by peristalsis type. Medusae are found, upside­ through loose sediment, float in currents, down and usually in large congrega­ and even swim by coordinated tentacular tions, on the muddy bottoms of in­ motion. shore bays and ponds. Both subclasses are represented in Ber­ W. STERRER muda. Because the orders are so diverse morphologically, they are often discussed separately. In some classifications the an­ Class Anthozoa (Corals, anemones) thozoan orders are grouped into 3 (not the 2 considered here) subclasses, splitting off CHARACTERISTICS: Exclusively polypoid, sol­ the Ceriantharia and Antipatharia into a itary or colonial eNIDARIA. Oral end ex­ separate subclass, the Ceriantipatharia. panded into oral disc which bears the mouth and Corallimorpharia are sometimes consid­ one or more rings of hollow tentacles. ered a suborder of Scleractinia. Approxi­ Stomodeum well developed, often with 1 or 2 mately 6,500 species of Anthozoa are siphonoglyphs. Gastrovascular cavity compart­ known. Of 93 species reported from Ber­ mentalized by radially arranged mesenteries.
    [Show full text]
  • Review on Hard Coral Recruitment (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in Colombia
    Universitas Scientiarum, 2011, Vol. 16 N° 3: 200-218 Disponible en línea en: www.javeriana.edu.co/universitas_scientiarum 2011, Vol. 16 N° 3: 200-218 SICI: 2027-1352(201109/12)16:3<200:RHCRCSIC>2.0.TS;2-W Invited review Review on hard coral recruitment (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in Colombia Alberto Acosta1, Luisa F. Dueñas2, Valeria Pizarro3 1 Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. 2 Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Marina - BIOMMAR, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. 3 Programa de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano. Santa Marta. Colombia. * [email protected] Recibido: 28-02-2011; Aceptado: 11-05-2011 Abstract Recruitment, defined and measured as the incorporation of new individuals (i.e. coral juveniles) into a population, is a fundamental process for ecologists, evolutionists and conservationists due to its direct effect on population structure and function. Because most coral populations are self-feeding, a breakdown in recruitment would lead to local extinction. Recruitment indirectly affects both renewal and maintenance of existing and future coral communities, coral reef biodiversity (bottom-up effect) and therefore coral reef resilience. This process has been used as an indirect measure of individual reproductive success (fitness) and is the final stage of larval dispersal leading to population connectivity. As a result, recruitment has been proposed as an indicator of coral-reef health in marine protected areas, as well as a central aspect of the decision-making process concerning management and conservation.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Coral Genera Australomussa and Parascolymia (Scleractinia, Lobophylliidae)
    Contributions to Zoology, 83 (3) 195-215 (2014) Taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the coral genera Australomussa and Parascolymia (Scleractinia, Lobophylliidae) Roberto Arrigoni1, 7, Zoe T. Richards2, Chaolun Allen Chen3, 4, Andrew H. Baird5, Francesca Benzoni1, 6 1 Dept. of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy 2 Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia 3Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei 115, Taiwan 4 Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan 5 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia 6 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR227 Coreus2, 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, BP A5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia 7 E-mail: [email protected] Key words: COI, evolution, histone H3, Lobophyllia, Pacific Ocean, rDNA, Symphyllia, systematics, taxonomic revision Abstract Molecular phylogeny of P. rowleyensis and P. vitiensis . 209 Utility of the examined molecular markers ....................... 209 Novel micromorphological characters in combination with mo- Acknowledgements ...................................................................... 210 lecular studies have led to an extensive revision of the taxonomy References ...................................................................................... 210 and systematics of scleractinian corals. In the present work, we Appendix .......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Response of Fluorescence Morphs of the Mesophotic Coral Euphyllia Paradivisa to Ultra-Violet Radiation
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Response of fuorescence morphs of the mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa to ultra-violet radiation Received: 23 August 2018 Or Ben-Zvi 1,2, Gal Eyal 1,2,3 & Yossi Loya 1 Accepted: 15 March 2019 Euphyllia paradivisa is a strictly mesophotic coral in the reefs of Eilat that displays a striking color Published: xx xx xxxx polymorphism, attributed to fuorescent proteins (FPs). FPs, which are used as visual markers in biomedical research, have been suggested to serve as photoprotectors or as facilitators of photosynthesis in corals due to their ability to transform light. Solar radiation that penetrates the sea includes, among others, both vital photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and ultra-violet radiation (UVR). Both types, at high intensities, are known to have negative efects on corals, ranging from cellular damage to changes in community structure. In the present study, fuorescence morphs of E. paradivisa were used to investigate UVR response in a mesophotic organism and to examine the phenomenon of fuorescence polymorphism. E. paradivisa, although able to survive in high-light environments, displayed several physiological and behavioral responses that indicated severe light and UVR stress. We suggest that high PAR and UVR are potential drivers behind the absence of this coral from shallow reefs. Moreover, we found no signifcant diferences between the diferent fuorescence morphs’ responses and no evidence of either photoprotection or photosynthesis enhancement. We therefore suggest that FPs in mesophotic corals might have a diferent biological role than that previously hypothesized for shallow corals. Te solar radiation that reaches the earth’s surface includes, among others, ultra-violet radiation (UVR; 280– 400 nm) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 400–700 nm).
    [Show full text]
  • Resurrecting a Subgenus to Genus: Molecular Phylogeny of Euphyllia and Fimbriaphyllia (Order Scleractinia; Family Euphylliidae; Clade V)
    Resurrecting a subgenus to genus: molecular phylogeny of Euphyllia and Fimbriaphyllia (order Scleractinia; family Euphylliidae; clade V) Katrina S. Luzon1,2,3,*, Mei-Fang Lin4,5,6,*, Ma. Carmen A. Ablan Lagman1,7, Wilfredo Roehl Y. Licuanan1,2,3 and Chaolun Allen Chen4,8,9,* 1 Biology Department, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines 2 Shields Ocean Research (SHORE) Center, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines 3 The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines 4 Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 5 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia 6 Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan 7 Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research (CENSER), De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines 8 Taiwan International Graduate Program-Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 9 Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan * These authors contributed equally to this work. ABSTRACT Background. The corallum is crucial in building coral reefs and in diagnosing systematic relationships in the order Scleractinia. However, molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed a paraphyly in a majority of traditional families and genera among Scleractinia showing that other biological attributes of the coral, such as polyp morphology and reproductive traits, are underutilized. Among scleractinian genera, the Euphyllia, with nine nominal species in the Indo-Pacific region, is one of the groups Submitted 30 May 2017 that await phylogenetic resolution. Multiple genetic markers were used to construct Accepted 31 October 2017 Published 4 December 2017 the phylogeny of six Euphyllia species, namely E. ancora, E. divisa, E.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 2. Animals
    AC20 Doc. 8.5 Annex (English only/Seulement en anglais/Únicamente en inglés) REVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT TRADE ANALYSIS OF TRADE TRENDS WITH NOTES ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF SELECTED SPECIES Volume 2. Animals Prepared for the CITES Animals Committee, CITES Secretariat by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre JANUARY 2004 AC20 Doc. 8.5 – p. 3 Prepared and produced by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE (UNEP-WCMC) www.unep-wcmc.org The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organisation. UNEP-WCMC aims to help decision-makers recognise the value of biodiversity to people everywhere, and to apply this knowledge to all that they do. The Centre’s challenge is to transform complex data into policy-relevant information, to build tools and systems for analysis and integration, and to support the needs of nations and the international community as they engage in joint programmes of action. UNEP-WCMC provides objective, scientifically rigorous products and services that include ecosystem assessments, support for implementation of environmental agreements, regional and global biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and development of future scenarios for the living world. Prepared for: The CITES Secretariat, Geneva A contribution to UNEP - The United Nations Environment Programme Printed by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK © Copyright: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre/CITES Secretariat The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations.
    [Show full text]
  • Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan I
    Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan I. The Complex Group 台灣石珊瑚誌 I. 複雜類群 Chang-feng Dai and Sharon Horng Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University Published by National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, Taiwan Table of Contents Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan ................................................................................................1 General Introduction ........................................................................................................1 Historical Review .............................................................................................................1 Basics for Coral Taxonomy ..............................................................................................4 Taxonomic Framework and Phylogeny ........................................................................... 9 Family Acroporidae ............................................................................................................ 15 Montipora ...................................................................................................................... 17 Acropora ........................................................................................................................ 47 Anacropora .................................................................................................................... 95 Isopora ...........................................................................................................................96 Astreopora ......................................................................................................................99
    [Show full text]
  • The Earliest Diverging Extant Scleractinian Corals Recovered by Mitochondrial Genomes Isabela G
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN The earliest diverging extant scleractinian corals recovered by mitochondrial genomes Isabela G. L. Seiblitz1,2*, Kátia C. C. Capel2, Jarosław Stolarski3, Zheng Bin Randolph Quek4, Danwei Huang4,5 & Marcelo V. Kitahara1,2 Evolutionary reconstructions of scleractinian corals have a discrepant proportion of zooxanthellate reef-building species in relation to their azooxanthellate deep-sea counterparts. In particular, the earliest diverging “Basal” lineage remains poorly studied compared to “Robust” and “Complex” corals. The lack of data from corals other than reef-building species impairs a broader understanding of scleractinian evolution. Here, based on complete mitogenomes, the early onset of azooxanthellate corals is explored focusing on one of the most morphologically distinct families, Micrabaciidae. Sequenced on both Illumina and Sanger platforms, mitogenomes of four micrabaciids range from 19,048 to 19,542 bp and have gene content and order similar to the majority of scleractinians. Phylogenies containing all mitochondrial genes confrm the monophyly of Micrabaciidae as a sister group to the rest of Scleractinia. This topology not only corroborates the hypothesis of a solitary and azooxanthellate ancestor for the order, but also agrees with the unique skeletal microstructure previously found in the family. Moreover, the early-diverging position of micrabaciids followed by gardineriids reinforces the previously observed macromorphological similarities between micrabaciids and Corallimorpharia as
    [Show full text]
  • Sexual Reproduction in the Caribbean Coral Genus Isophyllia (Scleractinia: Mussidae)
    Sexual reproduction in the Caribbean coral genus Isophyllia (Scleractinia: Mussidae) Derek Soto and Ernesto Weil Department of Marine Science, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Mayagu¨ez, Mayagu¨ez, Puerto Rico, United States ABSTRACT The sexual pattern, reproductive mode, and timing of reproduction of Isophyllia sinuosa and Isophyllia rigida, two Caribbean Mussids, were assessed by histological analysis of specimens collected monthly during 2000–2001. Both species are simultaneous hermaphroditic brooders characterized by a single annual gametogenetic cycle. Spermatocytes and oocytes of different stages were found to develop within the same mesentery indicating sequential maturation for extended planulation. Oogenesis took place during May through April in I. sinuosa and from August through June in I. rigida. Oocytes began development 7–8 months prior to spermaries but both sexes matured simultaneously. Zooxanthellate planulae were observed in I. sinuosa during April and in I. rigida from June through September. Higher polyp and mesenterial fecundity were found in I. rigida compared to I. sinuosa. Larger oocyte sizes were found in I. sinuosa than in I. rigida, however larger planula sizes were found in I. rigida. Hermaphroditism is the exclusive sexual pattern within the Mussidae while brooding has been documented within the related genera Mussa, Scolymia and Mycetophyllia. This study represents the first description of the sexual characteristics of I. rigida and provides an updated description of I. sinuosa. Subjects Developmental Biology, Marine Biology, Zoology Keywords Caribbean, Mussidae, Coral reproduction, Hermaphroditic, Brooder Submitted 5 October 2015 INTRODUCTION Accepted 7 October 2016 Published 10 November 2016 Reproduction in corals consists of a sequence of events which include: gametogenesis, Corresponding author spawning (broadcasters), fertilization, embryogenesis, planulation (brooders), dispersal, Derek Soto, [email protected] settlement and recruitment (Harrison & Wallace, 1990).
    [Show full text]
  • Symbiodinium—Invertebrate Symbioses and the Role of Metabolomics
    Mar. Drugs 2010, 8, 2546-2568; doi:10.3390/md8102546 OPEN ACCESS Marine Drugs ISSN 1660-3397 www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs Review Symbiodinium—Invertebrate Symbioses and the Role of Metabolomics Benjamin R. Gordon 1,* and William Leggat 2,3 1 AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; E-Mail: [email protected] 3 School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +61-7-47815395; Fax: +61-7-47816078. Received: 26 August 2010; in revised form: 24 September 2010 / Accepted: 26 September 2010 / Published: 30 September 2010 Abstract: Symbioses play an important role within the marine environment. Among the most well known of these symbioses is that between coral and the photosynthetic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium spp. Understanding the metabolic relationships between the host and the symbiont is of the utmost importance in order to gain insight into how this symbiosis may be disrupted due to environmental stressors. Here we summarize the metabolites related to nutritional roles, diel cycles and the common metabolites associated with the invertebrate-Symbiodinium relationship. We also review the more obscure metabolites and toxins that have been identified through natural products and biomarker research. Finally, we discuss the key role that metabolomics and functional genomics will play in understanding these important symbioses. Keywords: metabolomics; zooxanthellae; marine; Symbiodinium; coral 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Diel Patterns of Larval Release by Five Brooding Scleractinian Corals
    MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 321: 133–142, 2006 Published September 8 Mar Ecol Prog Ser Diel patterns of larval release by five brooding scleractinian corals Tung-Yung Fan1, 2,*, Ke-Han Lin1, 3, Fu-Wen Kuo1, Keryea Soong3, Li-Lian Liu3, Lee-Shing Fang1, 2 1National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan 944, ROC 2Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolution, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan 974, ROC 3Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 804, ROC ABSTRACT: Timing of larval release in benthic marine invertebrates plays an important role in determining the reproductive success and extent of larval dispersal. Few studies have been conducted on diel variations in planula release by corals. Five brooding corals Seriatopora hystrix, Stylophora pistillata, Pocillopora damicornis, Euphyllia glabrescens, and Tubastraea aurea in Nan- wan Bay, southern Taiwan, were selected to compare diel patterns of planula release. Corals were collected from the field and maintained in outdoor, flow-through systems to quantify the hourly release of planulae. Planulation by S. hystrix and S. pistillata was highly synchronized with 1 peak of planula release occurring close to sunrise. Planulae of P. damicornis and E. glabrescens were released throughout the day, and usually 2 peaks occurred in the early morning and at night. Planu- lation of the ahermatypic coral T. aurea occurred throughout the day without a consistent peak. The diel cycle of planulation for all 3 pocilloporids and E. glabrescens suggests that the light-dark cycle may be the cue that induces planula release. The majority of planulae of these 4 species being released in the dark might be beneficial for minimizing predation effects.
    [Show full text]
  • Cnidarian Phylogenetic Relationships As Revealed by Mitogenomics Ehsan Kayal1,2*, Béatrice Roure3, Hervé Philippe3, Allen G Collins4 and Dennis V Lavrov1
    Kayal et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2013, 13:5 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/13/5 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Cnidarian phylogenetic relationships as revealed by mitogenomics Ehsan Kayal1,2*, Béatrice Roure3, Hervé Philippe3, Allen G Collins4 and Dennis V Lavrov1 Abstract Background: Cnidaria (corals, sea anemones, hydroids, jellyfish) is a phylum of relatively simple aquatic animals characterized by the presence of the cnidocyst: a cell containing a giant capsular organelle with an eversible tubule (cnida). Species within Cnidaria have life cycles that involve one or both of the two distinct body forms, a typically benthic polyp, which may or may not be colonial, and a typically pelagic mostly solitary medusa. The currently accepted taxonomic scheme subdivides Cnidaria into two main assemblages: Anthozoa (Hexacorallia + Octocorallia) – cnidarians with a reproductive polyp and the absence of a medusa stage – and Medusozoa (Cubozoa, Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Staurozoa) – cnidarians that usually possess a reproductive medusa stage. Hypothesized relationships among these taxa greatly impact interpretations of cnidarian character evolution. Results: We expanded the sampling of cnidarian mitochondrial genomes, particularly from Medusozoa, to reevaluate phylogenetic relationships within Cnidaria. Our phylogenetic analyses based on a mitochogenomic dataset support many prior hypotheses, including monophyly of Hexacorallia, Octocorallia, Medusozoa, Cubozoa, Staurozoa, Hydrozoa, Carybdeida, Chirodropida, and Hydroidolina, but reject the monophyly of Anthozoa, indicating that the Octocorallia + Medusozoa relationship is not the result of sampling bias, as proposed earlier. Further, our analyses contradict Scyphozoa [Discomedusae + Coronatae], Acraspeda [Cubozoa + Scyphozoa], as well as the hypothesis that Staurozoa is the sister group to all the other medusozoans. Conclusions: Cnidarian mitochondrial genomic data contain phylogenetic signal informative for understanding the evolutionary history of this phylum.
    [Show full text]